Triumph of Lord Rama

October 3, 2006

Sunday, October 01, 2006 22:01 IST

Chandrahas Pujari

>From time to time God incarnates on earth to impart His instructions

and enact His pastimes. One incarnation is Lord Ramachandra, who

appeared in India millions of years ago as the ideal king. His

purpose was to teach us what a perfect government — a God-centred

government — is. His moral, political and religious teachings and

activities were meant to instruct humanity.

The Valmiki Ramayana, an ancient Vedic epic, describes the

appearance and glorious activities of Sri Rama. King Dasarath lived

in Ayodhya with his three queens, Kaushalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra.

Lord Rama was born to Kaushalya, Bharata to Kaikeyi, Laxmana and

Shatrughna to Sumitra.

Just when Rama was to be coronated as the crown prince, Kaikeyi, due

to the influence of wicked association, arranged for Dasaratha to

banish Rama to the forest for 14 years. Sita, His loving wife, and

His brother Laxmana also followed Him to the forest. In the

Panchavati forest, Ravana, the evil king of Sri Lanka, became

infatuated with the beauty of Sita. He kidnapped her, thus provoking

the wrath of Lord Rama. Ravana had received a blessing from Brahma,

the secondary creator of the universe, that he could not be killed

by any god. The Lord, appearing in the role of a human being,

defeated Ravana and saved the world.

The only flaw in Ravana's character was that he wanted to enjoy

Laxmi (Sita) without her husband Narayana (Rama). Ravana is the

manifestation of the propensity within us to lord it over the

resources of material nature.

>From the glorious story of the Ramayana, we can understand this

point that we will not be benefited by Laxmi Devi in any way, shape,

or form, without worshipping Narayana.

Vijayadasami or Dassehra is the day when we remember and glorify the

Supreme personality of Godhead and His victory over all irreligious

forces. Let us take advantage of this occasion to rededicate

ourselves to the real purpose of human life to become loving

servants of Sita and Rama.

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